I've been steadily gaining weight since my daughter was born 10 years ago. My weight is causing me hormonal problems that interrupt my cycles and I have become infertile. I've had enough. I've toyed with the idea of losing weight, but never really applied myself. I would diet a little here and there but was never able to stick with it. Another wrench in my diet is that I am newly diagnosed as gluten intolerant and a lot of the alternatives to wheat flour are higher in calories.

I'm engaged to a guy who loves me enough to HELP me with this battle and is positive and encouraging. He too is overweight and no longer wishes to be. In just the first few weeks of changing my eating habits I'm seeing the positive effects of having an awesome support system and now I want to branch out.

So, hello, I'm Lauren. I'm 5'11 with a start weight of 268 and a goal of 200 lbs. My ultimate goal would be 170-180, but I know I will be more than happy at 200lbs. My minimum goal is to lose enough weight to start to cycle regularly again and have another baby.

My fiance, Antonio, and I both have iPhones and are using the Lose It! free app to create calorie budgets, record food, and record exercise. I've already lost 10 lbs!!! Antonio is starting to lose too. I'd love to connect with others using the app. PM me your email and I'll add you to my friends.

Hi Lauren. Nice to meet you.

I don't know if this will help at all, but my son has a gluten intolerance and has been on a gluten free diet for 10 years. Interestingly, he was VERY chunky when he started out, but now he is tall and lean (and 17). I guess I'll never know if his weight shifted because of puberty and time, or because of his gluten free diet, but I can say that he eats a lot (like 10 tacos at a time) and remains a steady 175. For the first year of his diet, our entire family went gf and I was the thinnest I had been in adulthood until now. When I went back to eating wheat I gained weight like a mad woman...but then again there were other factors as well I'm sure. My husband and younger son also gained weight when adding wheat back into their lives.

Anyway, just thought I'd throw that in. Sometimes I think that gluten/wheat could be the root cause of many health issues including obesity. MANY of the foods I LOVED to indulge in are made with refined flour/ gluten.

Anyway, happy trails.

I am also gluten intolerant and it was a big reason why I was gaining weight. Now that I have to watch that in my diet it has made it much easier to watch other things as well.
It can really help in social situations as well. I went to a baby shower with all sorts of lovely muffins and scones. The only thing on the menu I could eat was potatoes and fruit. I walked out feeling good, not over full or guilty. It helps me to limit foods because of a health issue instead of a 'diet'.

Good luck and all the best.

Where did you find a list of foods to avoid for a gluten free diet. thanks

Hi Lauren!
Sounds like you and Antonio are off to a great start, congrats on your success so far - the support you need is here to get through the ups and downs - we'll all be here to cheer you on.

Glad to have you join us! There are lots & lots of different groups and forums - I'm sure you'll find some that will keep you motivated and inspired. Try the weight loss support forums, they're active and very helpful - also the Success stories are a definite must for motivation. To meet others with gluten intolerance for support and advice, try the Dieting with Obstacles forum or use the search feature to find threads throughout the site on the subject.

There are bunches of people here with more to lose and some with less - the bottom line is that we all have to do it a day at a time. The good thing is that we'll have lots of company along the way.

I've only been here since last fall, having NEVER been part of an online forum. What has been so eye-opening is how much it has helped me. Whenever I feel overwhelmed or defeated, I just log on and read some of the success stories, complete with their before & after photos - or read about others still dealing day to day with their challenges - and before I know it, the time has flown by and so have all the thoughts of going off track or giving up. It has made all the difference in my success so far.

So welcome - you've found the right place - join in by inspiring us and being inspired!

All the best - good luck with your goals - here's to a healthier you and a new little one in your future,
Lee

karla - it's easier to find out what has gluten in it and avoid it. basically anything derived from wheat, barley, or rye is off limits. this includes obvious things like bread, most cereals, and cakes; it also includes things like gravy, anything fried (unless its breaded with a non-gluten batter), fillers and a lot of preservatives. Meats, fruits, veggies, and a slew of other whole grains are safe.

I refer to celiacs.org and I have a few iPhone apps that help me determine if a particular item is gluten free. More and more companies are starting to label their existing items that are naturally gluten free - like rice and corn chex - and it's getting easier every day to decipher labels for all the hidden gluten.

also, weighed myself today (not my usual weigh in day) and I'm down 2 more lbs!